Page 88 of Loving the Sinner
When we park, I watch men in suits and women in dresses enter into the red brick buildings, and I glance down at my black chinos and gray button up and feel a little underdressed.
“Elli? Am I underdressed? Everyone here looks like they’re going to a job interview or a funeral.”
Elli chuckles and shakes her head. “No babe. You’re dressed just fine. Besides, it won’t be your clothes that draw attention.”
I roll my eyes this time. I can see how a tattooed, pierced, long-haired guy would stand out in this crowd. Not like I haven’t stood out my whole life, but here, it’sveryobvious.
Wewalk into a lobby type area and Elli leads me through big double doors into a room filled with benches and uncomfortable looking metal chairs. I see they’ve opened up an accordion door type thing and filled what looks to be a big gym area with the chairs.
Up in front, where all the benches are facing, there’s a big podium with a microphone, a row of benches, an organ, and a piano. Behind those, are more chairs that look like a choir should be sitting there.
Huh, maybe the music’ll be good.
Off to the side of the podium is a table covered in a white cloth that looks suspiciously like a body is laying underneath the sheets.
“Um, Elli?” I whisper in her ear.
“Hm?”
“Why does it look like there’s a body up there?” I subtly tilt my head towards the table so as not to draw attention.
“Oh, that’s the sacrament. It purposefully looks like a body so you can imagine it’s the body of Christ.”
I don’t even know what to say to that so I just nod in agreement.
All the walls in this room are white. Now that I think about it, all the walls in the lobby area are white, too. Except for the bottom half, which is covered in rough looking carpet type material. Even the benches are covered in carpet.
Carpet floors. Carpet benches. Carpet walls.
Interesting design choice.
Elli leads me to one of the side benches where a blonde woman and a bald man are standing with a younger guy in a suit. The woman turns around and I recognize her instantly from Elli’s instagram as Louise Monson.
Elli’s mom.
Theyoung man in the suit sees Elli first and gives her a head nod, like he’s too good to talk to her. That must be Spencer. I can see the resemblance. He has the same dark hair, same nose shape, and the same blue eyes, though his are duller than Elli’s.
Elli’s mom and dad turn around to see who Spencer is acknowledging and their eyes immediately lock onto our interlocked hands. I watch Louise’s face morph from one of disgust to politely impassive in a way that has to be practiced.
“Elliana. So glad you could make it.” She says with a fake smile, pulling Elli into a stiff, awkward hug.
“Good to see you, Elli.” Her dad says, patting her heartily on the back. “You must be Wes. I’m Kent.”
I take his outstretched hand, shaking it firmly. “Nice to meet you Mr. Monson. You as well Mrs. Monson.” After I let go of Kent’s hand, I offer my hand to Louise and she looks at it like I’m going to give her a disease.
Eventually she takes it lightly in her hand and shakes it once, muttering a “You too.”
Louise turns back to Elli and gestures towards three big benches, “We’ve saved these three benches for the family. Sit on the end of this one.” It’s not a request, but a demand. I’m immediately in defense mode, ready to defend my lady.
“Sure.” Elli tugs me along and lets me sit on the outer edge. She sits beside me, her knee bouncing anxiously.
I place a hand on her knee and rub little circles, hoping to soothe her, but she only offers me a polite, forced smile in return.
Ten minutes later, our bench is filled with people. Izzy was able to sneak over to sit by us before her mom got upset, and that’s given me a bit of comfort to know Elli won’t be sitting by someone who’s going to be rude.
I’ve been introduced as Elli’s boyfriend to seven aunts, six uncles, and at least ten cousins. But those are just the ones who have come to say hi to Elli. She really wasn’t lying about having a big family. They’ve given me looks that range from disgust and fear, to curiosity.
Just as the organ starts to play a soft melody, Elli nudges my arm. “There’s Hannah,” She nods toward a woman two rows behind us,” she’s in the black dress and has blonde hair. We’ll have to go say hi after.”
